Eat That Question—Frank Zappa In His Own Words
January 25, 2016
90 min.
Directed by Thorsten Schütte.
Formerly known as Zapped.
Includes footage from:
- FZ home movies, c. 1959-1961 ("G-Spot Tornado," 1987)
- The Steve Allen Show (1963)
- TTG Studios, c. September 1966 (Sex In Today's World, 1967)
- MOI, Garrick Theatre (Ed Seeman, 1967)
- From The Bitter End (October 15, 1967)
- Germany, 1968 - German fans (Essen?) - b&w
- MOI, Hamburg, October 4, 1968
- Beat Club (Radio Bremen TV, October 6, 1968)
- Vienna, c. October 11-13, 1968 (Herman Jauk, b&w, october 1968)
- Sportpalast, Berlin, October 16, 1968
- Forum Musiques (ORTF, October 23, 1968)
- MOI Home Movies (c. 1968-1969) (from Uncle Meat)
- Unidentified MOI concert, c. 1968-1969 (b&w) #1 - "Trouble Every Day"
- Unidentified MOI concert, c. 1968-1969 (b&w) #2 - "Plastic People" (soundcheck)
- Unidentified MOI concert, c. 1968-1969 (color) (MOI Home Movies)
- The Day It Is (CBC, Canada, May 19, 1969)
- Radio Bremen Interview (June 19, 1970)
- FZ, Woodrow Wilson Dr., 1970 (VPRO)
- Fillmore West, November 6, 1970 (VPRO)
- MOI, airport, c. November 1970 (Frank Zappa, VPRO, 1971)
- MOI, Paris, December 15, 1970 (INA)
- Pinewood Studios, January-February 1971 (VPRO)
- BBC News (February 8, 1971)
- Weekend (CBC, February 14, 1971)
- unidentified FZ promo appearence, c. 1971 (Pop 2, ORTF, May 8, 1971)
- What's My Line? (September 23, 1971)
- Spotlight (Swedish TV, December 4, 1971)
- Pop 2 (ORTF, December 11, 1971)
- Get To Know (June 1973)
- Monday Conference (ABC, July 2, 1973)
- FZ, George; airport, c. 1973 (b&w)
- Stockholm, August 21, 1973 (Oppåpoppa)
- MOI, KCET (August 27, 1974)
- The Mike Douglas Show (NBC, November 11, 1976)
- Böblingen, Germany, January 31, 1977
- Palladium, NYC, October 1977 (Baby Snakes, 1979)
- Cirkus Krone, Munich, August 31, 1978 (We Don't Mess Around)
- Bruce Bickford clay animation; FZ, Bruce Bickford studio (Baby Snakes, 1979)
- Paris, June 11, 1980
- Kelly Lange, KNBC, c. 1980?
- The Stanley Siegel Show (ABC, August 17, 1981)
- Freeman Reports (CNN, October 26, 1981)
- Talking With . . . Frank Zappa (Chuck Ash, November 3, 1981)
- The New Music (CityTV, November 21, 1981)
- FZ, backstage, c. 1982? (b&w)
- Take Off (Night Flight) interview (c. July 1982)
- Channel Four News (BBC, January 6, 1983)
- Nationwide (BBC, January 7, 1983)
- Newsnight (BBC, January 10, 1983)
- Paris, January 9-11, 1984 (FZ & Boulez)
- The Pier, NYC, August 1984 (Does Humor Belong In Music?)
- Nightline (ABC, September 13, 1985)
- Senate Hearings, September 19, 1985
- Tom Brokaw, NBC, September 19, 1985 - ("Rock Lyrics")
- Sue Simmons, WNBC, c. September 19, 1985 - ("Restricted Rock?")
- Connie Chung, NBC, c. September 19, 1985 - ("Rock Ratings")
- Register To Vote PSA, October 2, 1985
- Night Flight (October 24, 1985)
- "Rock Music Kills" protesters, c. 1985?
- Tom Brokaw, NBC, c. 1985-1986 - ("Warning Labels")
- Crossfire (CNN, March 28, 1986)
- Unidentified interview, c. 1986-1988
- Albany, February 2, 1988
- Barcelona, May 17, 1988
- FZ, Synclavier, c. 1988-1989
- CBS This Morning (June 9, 1989)
- Prague, January 1990
- FZ, UMRK, Editing Room, c. 1990
- Musik Werkstatt (ZDF, April 8, 1990)
- Niles Lesh interview, c. 1990-1991
- Ensemble Modern, Frankfurt, July 1992
- Ensemble Modern, Frankfurt, September 17, 1992 (The Yellow Shark) - (Today Show)
- Today Show (NBC, May 14, 1993)
- Ensemble Modern, Burbank, July 1993
List of contents:
[*Work in progress.] Timing from the Spanish DVD [USA DVD in brackets]. Add or substract seconds depending on your version.
- 0:00:14 [0:00:09] - Take Off (Night Flight) interview (c. July 1982)
- 0:01:06 [0:01:09] - Unidentified MOI concert, c. 1968-1969 (b&w) #1 - "Trouble Every Day"
- 0:01:08 [0:01:11] - Talking With . . . Frank Zappa (Chuck Ash, November 3, 1981)
- 0:01:17 [0:01:21] - Unidentified MOI concert, c. 1968-1969 (b&w) #1 - "Trouble Every Day"
- 0:01:26 [0:01:30] - Weekend (CBC, February 14, 1971) - Kay Sigurjonsson intro (color)
- 0:01:32 [0:01:36] - MOI, Garrick Theatre (Ed Seeman, 1967) - Pipco t-shirt; ripping off album covers
- 0:01:35 [0:01:39] - Freeman Reports (CNN, October 26, 1981)
- 0:01:36 [0:01:41] - MOI, Hamburg, October 4, 1968 - FZ (Rental t-shirt), Ian, Roy, Art, JCB (b&w)
- 0:01:39 [0:01:43] - Freeman Reports (CNN, October 26, 1981)
- 0:01:41 [0:01:46] - The Day It Is (CBC, Canada, May 19, 1969)
- 0:01:44 [0:01:49] - Unidentified MOI concert, c. 1968-1969 (b&w) #1 - "Trouble Every Day"
- 0:01:49 [0:01:54] - The Mike Douglas Show (NBC, November 11, 1976)
- 0:01:54 [0:01:59] - FZ, Woodrow Wilson Dr., 1970 (VPRO)
- 0:01:56 [0:02:01] - Vienna, c. October 11-13, 1968 (Herman Jauk, b&w, october 1968) - FZ composing, hotel room
- 0:01:57 [0:02:03] - MOI, Paris, December 15, 1970 (INA)
- 0:01:59 [0:02:04] - MOI, Garrick Theatre (Ed Seeman, 1967) - FZ mouth
- 0:02:00 [0:02:05] - Unidentified MOI concert, c. 1968-1969 (color) (MOI Home Movies) - FZ (golden Les Paul), Roy
- 0:02:01 [0:02:07] - MOI, Garrick Theatre (Ed Seeman, 1967) - Sal Lombardo, whipped cream
- 0:02:07 [0:02:12] - The New Music (CityTV, November 21, 1981)
- 0:02:10 [0:02:16] - Böblingen, Germany, January 31, 1977 - live
- 0:02:11 [0:02:17] - Monday Conference (ABC, July 2, 1973)
- 0:02:12 [0:02:18] - Bruce Bickford clay animation
- 0:02:16 [0:02:22] - FZ, Bruce Bickford studio (Baby Snakes, 1979)
- 0:02:17 [0:02:24] - Germany, 1968 - girl selling FZ toilet posters (Essen?) - b&w
- 0:02:24 [0:02:31] - Nationwide (BBC, January 7, 1983)
- 0:02:27 [0:02:35] - Albany, February 2, 1988
- 0:02:29 [0:02:36] - Paris, January 9-11, 1984 (FZ & Boulez)
- 0:02:32 [0:02:40] - Kelly Lange, KNBC, c. 1980?
- 0:02:35 [0:02:42] - "Rock Music Kills" protesters, c. 1985?
- 0:02:36 [0:02:43] - Unidentified interview, c. 1986-1988
- 0:02:38 [0:02:45] - Kelly Lange, KNBC, c. 1980?
- 0:02:42 [0:02:49] - The New Music (CityTV, November 21, 1981)
- 0:02:45 [0:02:52] - Paris, June 11, 1980
- 0:02:46 [0:02:53] - Monday Conference (ABC, July 2, 1973)
- 0:02:47 [0:02:55] - Palladium, NYC, October 1977 (Baby Snakes, 1979)
- 0:02:48 [0:02:56] - FZ, backstage, c. 1982? (b&w)
- 0:02:49 [0:02:56] - unidentified FZ promo appearence, c. 1971 (Pop 2, ORTF, May 8, 1971)
- 0:02:50 [0:02:58] - Channel Four News (BBC, January 6, 1983)
- 0:02:52 [0:03:00] - Böblingen, Germany, January 31, 1977 - dressing room
- 0:02:53 [0:03:02] - Beat Club (Radio Bremen TV, October 6, 1968)
- 0:02:54 [0:03:02] - Pop 2 (ORTF, December 11, 1971) - airport
- 0:02:55 [0:03:04] - Pop 2 (ORTF, December 11, 1971) - sofa interview
- 0:02:56 [0:03:05] - Night Flight (October 24, 1985)
- 0:02:57 [0:03:06] - Channel Four News (BBC, January 6, 1983)
- 0:03:01 [0:03:09] - "EAT THAT QUESTION"
- 0:03:03 [0:03:11] - Take Off (Night Flight) interview (c. July 1982)
- 0:03:05 [0:03:13] - "FRANK ZAPPA IN HIS OWN WORDS"
- 0:03:08 [0:03:16] - The New Music (CityTV, November 21, 1981)
- 0:04:32 [0:04:44] - TTG Studios, c. September 1966 (Sex In Today's World, 1967)
- 0:04:55 [0:05:08] - The Day It Is (CBC, Canada, May 19, 1969)
- 0:05:27 [0:05:42] - Unidentified MOI concert, c. 1968-1969 (b&w) #2 - "Plastic People" (soundcheck); pipe organ on stage
- 0:05:59 [0:06:15] - Talking With . . . Frank Zappa (Chuck Ash, November 3, 1981)
- 0:06:41 [0:06:59] - The New Music (CityTV, November 21, 1981)
- 0:07:41 [0:08:01] - The Steve Allen Show (1963)
- 0:10:00 [0:10:25] - Spotlight (Swedish TV, December 4, 1971)
- 0:11:02 [0:11:30] - From The Bitter End (October 15, 1967)
- 0:11:16 [0:11:45] - MOI Home Movies (c. 1968-1969) (Uncle Meat) - Don; Buzz & JCB; FZ; Roy; JCB; Lowell - "Mother People"
- 0:11:30 [0:11:58] - Unidentified MOI concert, c. 1968-1969 (color) (MOI Home Movies) - Don, Roy; JCB - "Mother People"
- 0:11:36 [0:12:04] - MOI Home Movies (c. 1968-1969) (Uncle Meat) - Roy; Lowell; Bunk, Art; Don; JCB; Bunk - "Mother People"
- 0:11:55 [0:12:25] - Unidentified MOI concert, c. 1968-1969 (color) (MOI Home Movies) - Art - "Mother People"
- 0:11:58 [0:12:28] - MOI Home Movies (c. 1968-1969) (Uncle Meat) - FZ - "Mother People"
- 0:12:01 [0:12:33] - From The Bitter End (October 15, 1967)
- 0:13:48 [0:14:24] - FZ, Woodrow Wilson Dr., 1970 (VPRO)
- 0:15:16 [0:15:56] - Forum Musiques (ORTF, October 23, 1968) - "Pound For A Brown/Sleeping In A Jar"
- 0:18:30 [0:19:16] - Germany, 1968 - German fans talking (Essen?) - b&w
- 0:18:52 [0:19:39] - Radio Bremen Interview (June 19, 1970)
- 0:20:07 [0:20:58] - The Day It Is (CBC, Canada, May 19, 1969)
- 0:21:10 [0:22:03] - Radio Bremen Interview (June 19, 1970)
- 0:22:07 [0:23:04] - Sportpalast, Berlin, October 16, 1968
- 0:22:17 [0:23:13] - Radio Bremen Interview (June 19, 1970)
- 0:22:19 [0:23:15] - Sportpalast, Berlin, October 16, 1968
- 0:22:32 [0:23:29] - Radio Bremen Interview (June 19, 1970)
- 0:22:36 [0:23:33] - Sportpalast, Berlin, October 16, 1968
- 0:22:54 [0:23:52] - Radio Bremen Interview (June 19, 1970)
- 0:22:59 [0:23:57] - Sportpalast, Berlin, October 16, 1968
- 0:23:04 [0:24:02] - Radio Bremen Interview (June 19, 1970)
- 0:23:35 [0:24:34] - FZ, Woodrow Wilson Dr., 1970 (VPRO)
- 0:25:16 [0:26:20] - Pinewood Studios, January-February 1971 (VPRO)
- 0:25:29 [0:26:34] - FZ, Woodrow Wilson Dr., 1970 (VPRO)
- 0:25:54 [0:26:59] - Pinewood Studios, January-February 1971 (VPRO)
- 0:26:14 [0:27:20] - What's My Line? (September 23, 1971)
- 0:27:17 [0:28:26] - Pinewood Studios, January-February 1971 (VPRO)
- 0:27:30 [0:28:40] - What's My Line? (September 23, 1971)
- 0:27:36 [0:28:46] - Pinewood Studios, January-February 1971 (VPRO)
- 0:27:48 [0:28:59] - What's My Line? (September 23, 1971)
- 0:28:11 [0:29:22] - Pinewood Studios, January-February 1971 (VPRO) - "Magic Fingers"
- 0:29:10 [0:30:23] - BBC News (February 8, 1971)
- 0:30:50 [0:32:08] - The New Music (CityTV, November 21, 1981)
- 0:31:41 [0:33:02] - Fillmore West, November 6, 1970 (VPRO) - "Penis Dimension"
- 0:33:15 [0:34:39] - Spotlight (Swedish TV, December 4, 1971)
- 0:34:01 [0:35:28] - MOI, Paris, December 15, 1970 (INA)
- 0:35:02 [0:36:32] - Spotlight (Swedish TV, December 4, 1971)
- 0:35:31 [0:37:01] - MOI, Paris, December 15, 1970 (INA)
- 0:36:06 [0:37:38] - MOI, airport, c. November 1970 (Frank Zappa, VPRO, 1971) - Howard, Mark, Jeff, Brena, Paul Hof?; FZ, Aynsley
- 0:36:18 [0:37:50] - Talking With . . . Frank Zappa (Chuck Ash, November 3, 1981)
- 0:37:06 [0:38:41] - Weekend (CBC, February 14, 1971)
- 0:37:48 [0:39:24] - Pop 2 (ORTF, December 11, 1971) - airport
- 0:38:08 [0:39:45] - Monday Conference (ABC, July 2, 1973)
- 0:39:21 [0:41:01] - Stockholm, August 21, 1973 (Oppåpoppa) - "Cosmik Debris"
- 0:41:20 [0:43:05] - FZ (checkered pants & jacket), George; airport, c. 1973 (b&w)
- 0:41:30 [0:43:16] - Get To Know (June 1973)
- 0:42:19 [0:44:07] - MOI, KCET (August 27, 1974) - "Approximate"
- 0:43:51 [0:45:43] - The New Music (CityTV, November 21, 1981)
- 0:44:39 [0:46:31] - Talking With . . . Frank Zappa (Chuck Ash, November 3, 1981)
- 0:45:44 [0:47:38] - The New Music (CityTV, November 21, 1981)
- 0:46:17 [0:48:14] - Palladium, NYC, October 1977 (Baby Snakes, 1979) - "Dinah-Moe Humm"
- 0:49:08 [0:51:12] - The New Music (CityTV, November 21, 1981)
- 0:50:12 [0:52:18] - Cirkus Krone, Munich, August 31, 1978 (We Don't Mess Around) - "Bobby Brown"
- 0:52:58 [0:55:12] - The Stanley Siegel Show (ABC, August 17, 1981)
- 0:55:14 [0:57:33] - The Pier, NYC, August 1984 (Does Humor Belong In Music?) - "Tinsel Town Rebellion"
- 0:57:25 [0:59:50] - Take Off (Night Flight) interview (c. July 1982)
- 0:59:02 [1:01:30] - Newsnight (BBC, January 10, 1983)
- 1:01:51 [1:04:26] - Nationwide (BBC, January 7, 1983)
- 1:02:57 [1:05:36] - Night Flight (October 24, 1985)
- 1:03:14 [1:05:53] - Tom Brokaw, NBC, September 19, 1985 - news report on Senate hearings ("Rock Lyrics")
- 1:03:27 [1:06:06] - Sue Simmons, WNBC, c. September 19, 1985 - ("Restricted Rock?")
- 1:03:33 [1:06:12] - Connie Chung, NBC, c. September 19, 1985 - ("Rock Ratings")
- 1:03:44 [1:06:24] - Senate Hearings, September 19, 1985 - Tipper Gore
- 1:03:54 [1:06:34] - Senate Hearings, September 19, 1985 - FZ
- 1:04:12 [1:06:53] - Connie Chung, NBC, c. September 19, 1985 - ("Rock Ratings")
- 1:04:20 [1:07:01] - Nightline (ABC, September 13, 1985)
- 1:04:31 [1:07:13] - Senate Hearings, September 19, 1985 - Tipper Gore
- 1:04:39 [1:07:21] - Nightline (ABC, September 13, 1985)
- 1:04:42 [1:07:24] - Senate Hearings, September 19, 1985 - Paula Hawkins
- 1:04:45 [1:07:27] - Nightline (ABC, September 13, 1985)
- 1:04:49 [1:07:32] - Senate Hearings, September 19, 1985 - Paula Hawkins
- 1:05:00 [1:07:43] - Nightline (ABC, September 13, 1985)
- 1:05:38 [1:08:23] - Senate Hearings, September 19, 1985 - FZ & Paula Hawkins
- 1:07:19 [1:10:08] - Crossfire (CNN, March 28, 1986)
- 1:09:20 [1:12:14] - Tom Brokaw, NBC, c. 1985-1986 - Robert Hager? report on warning labels - Tower Records - FZMTMOP - ("Warning Labels")
- 1:09:58 [1:12:54] - Barcelona, May 17, 1988 - "When The Lie's So Big"
- 1:11:42 [1:14:42] - CBS This Morning (June 9, 1989) - Faith Daniels, Harry Smith, FZ
- 1:13:16 [1:16:20] - FZ (black shirt & jacket), Synclavier (the two keyboards on one table), c. 1988-1989
- 1:14:05 [1:17:12] - CBS This Morning (June 9, 1989)
- 1:14:26 [1:17:33] - Los Angeles County Fair, c. 1961; FZ home movies - "G-Spot Tornado" (Video From Hell)
- 1:15:02 [1:18:11] - Prague, January 1990
- 1:17:58 [1:21:14] - FZ, UMRK, Editing Room, c. 1990
- 1:18:41 [1:21:58] - Musik Werkstatt (ZDF, April 8, 1990)
- 1:19:15 [1:22:35] - (Airplane)
- 1:19:21 [1:22:41] - Ensemble Modern, Frankfurt, July 1992 - "G-Spot Tornado"
- 1:20:04 [1:23:25] - Musik Werkstatt (ZDF, April 8, 1990)
- 1;20:30 [1:23:53] - Ensemble Modern, Frankfurt, July 1992 - "G-Spot Tornado"
- 1:21:06 [1:24:31] - Today Show (NBC, May 14, 1993)
- 1:21:49 [1:25:13] - Ensemble Modern, Frankfurt, September 17, 1992 (The Yellow Shark) - (Today Show)
- 1:22:00 [1:25:25] - Today Show (NBC, May 14, 1993)
- 1:22:17 [1:25:42] - Ensemble Modern, Frankfurt, September 17, 1992 (The Yellow Shark) - (Today Show)
- 1:22:32 [1:25:58] - Today Show (NBC, May 14, 1993)
- 1:25:05 [1:28:40] - Ensemble Modern, Burbank, July 1993 - "Ionisation"
- 1:26:34 [1:30:13] - (Credits)
- 1:29:09 - Niles Lesh interview, c. 1990-1991
- [1:32:55] - Register To Vote PSA, October 2, 1985
- 1:29:40 [1:33:08] - (end)
Thorsten Schütte came to the Studio Theatre to show us unseen, lost and forgotten film footage and discuss FZ's role as a film maker. Thorsten is currently putting together FZ footage for an official release, with ZAPPED as the working title. [...] They only showed us three of six film clips from ZAPPED, one of which is up on YouTube.
Zapped
Germany | 90min.
Logline
Zapped celebrates the 20th anniversary of Frank Zappa's death in 2013 with a treasure trove of lost and forgotten film and audio recordings from all around the globe.
Project information
Status: development / research
Title: Zapped
Country: Germany
Credits
Director
Thorsten Schütte
Production
Jochen Laube for teamWorx Television & Film GmbH
Commissioning Editor
Martina Zöllner for SWR
Selected for FORUM 2011
Sundance Institute today completed its feature film lineup for the 2016 Sundance Film Festival with the highly anticipated narratives, documentaries, episodic work and events in the Premieres, Documentary Premieres, Spotlight, Sundance Kids and Special Events sections. The Festival takes place January 21-31 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Sundance and Ogden, Utah. [...]
Eat That Question—Frank Zappa in His Own Words / France, Germany (Director: Thorsten Schütte)—This entertaining encounter with the premier of sonic avant-garde is acidic, fun-poking, and full of rich and rare archival footage. This documentary bashes favorite Zappa targets and dashes a few myths about the man himself. World Premiere
Thorsten Schütte's film is a sharply edited and energetic celebration of Zappa through his public persona, allowing us to witness his shifting relationship with audiences. Utilizing potent TV interviews and many forgotten performances from his 30-year career, we are immersed into the musician's world while experiencing two distinct facets of his complex character.
[...]
Cast & Credits
Director Thorsten Schütte
Screenwriter Thorsten Schütte
Producer Estelle Fialon
Line Producer Claire Babany / Michael Jungfleisch
Editor Willibald Wonneberger
Researcher Elizabeth Klinck
Co Producer Jochen Laube
[...]
Watch at the Sundance Film Festival
8:30 PM MON 1/25 Prospector Square Theatre
9:00 PM WED 1/27 Temple Theatre
6:00 PM THU 1/28 Tower Theatre
11:45 PM SAT 1/30 Egyptian Theatre
More teasers, trailers & interviews:
- "EAT THAT QUESTION Trailer (Frank Zappa Movie—2016)," Fresh Movie Trailers, YouTube, May 26, 2016
- "Director Thorsten Schutte on making NEW Frank Zappa Doc EAT THAT QUESTION," Jog Road Productions, YouTube, June 21, 2016
- "Film Clip: 'Eat That Question: Frank Zappa In His Own Words'," WSJ Video, June 23, 2016
- "Moon Zappa and Thorsten Schutte On "Eat That Question: Frank Zappa In His Own Words" | AOL BUILD," Aol Build, YouTube, June 23, 2016
- "Thorsten Schütte and Moon Unit Zappa on 'Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words'," BehindTheVelvetRope.TV, YouTube, June 24, 2016
- Tom Cole, "Zappa On Zappa: 'Eat That Question' Tells A Contrarian's Story In His Own Words," NPR, June 24, 2016
- "Q&A with Thorsten Schütte, Director of EAT THAT QUESTION: FRANK ZAPPA IN HIS OWN WORDS," Film Forum, June 25, 2016
- "Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words Clip Compilation (2016)," FilmIsNow Movie Bloopers & Extras, YouTube, June 25, 2016
Sony Classics: Eat That Question—Frank Zappa In His Own Words